Ali Hasanov: Khojaly tragedy is most bloody tragedy after collapse of USSR (PHOTO)

Kayseri, Turkey, Oct. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Turkish Erciyes University and Talas province municipality have organized “Dialogue in the modern world” conference, inauguration of a Khojaly park and the unveiling of a Khojaly memorial in the Turkish city of Kayseri.

The ceremony was attended by Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani president’s assistant for public and political affairs, Azerbaijani MPs, members of the Lower House of Russian Parliament.

Addressing the event, Ali Hasanov thanked the Turkish and Russian MPs for a detailed assessment of the Khojaly tragedy.

"Many questions have been raised here. Member of the State Duma of Russia Dmitry Savelyev, member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Samil Ayrim made a speach. The chairman of the municipality of Talas and other speakers gave a detailed assessment of the Khojaly tragedy. Civilians were killed in Khojaly. They were killed due to the fact that they were Azerbaijanis, Turks. Everyone was killed that night. Even old people and children leaving the city were killed. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Khojaly tragedy became the bloodiest tragedy that went down in history. Since 1991, the states separated from the USSR began to defend their borders, develop independence and ensure their prosperous life. Since then, the Khojaly tragedy has been the bloodiest page in history. Prior to this, there have been many tragedies in history. But this tragedy has no difference from genocide in terms of its scope and cause. It is the notion of genocide that rightly reflects the essence of this tragedy," he said.

He said it is regrettable that the perpetrators of this tragedy are still at large.

"They are still building their policies. They represented Armenia in all international organizations. They were given the word despite of the fact that they were criminals. However, the Azerbaijani state, conveying to the whole world the truth about Khojaly, publishing books about Khojaly, erecting monuments in memory of the victims of this tragedy, does not intend to inculcate hostile sentiments against the Armenian people. We want the world community to know those criminals who were representatives of the Armenian people and stayed in power for a long time. We want to convey the essence of the acts committed by them so that such bloody tragedies would not recur. If the history does not give assessment to this, such events may repeat. Therefore, we urge peace-loving humanity to give a proper assessment to this tragedy," Ali Hasanov said.

He added that Azerbaijan most of all wants peace in the region.

"The leaders of the same aggressive regime keep our lands under occupation. We want to return these lands by peaceful means, because war will again cost the blood of innocent people," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.